Anchor apparatus



June 27, 1967 0. K. GOODWIN 3,327,673

ANCHOR APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Q Egg mINVENTOR OLLlE KGo'oomM MMW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,327,673ANCHOR APPARATUS Gllie K. Goodwin, Newport News, Va, assignor to NewportNews Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va, a corporationof "irginia (triginai application Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 397,381, nowPatent No. 3,292,565, dated Dec. 20, 1966. Divided and this applicationJune 28, 1966, Ser. No. 573,435

5 Claims. (Cl. 114208) ABSTRACT 9F THE DISCLGSURE A support meansincludes an elongated shank having a hole at the upper end forconnection to an anchor cable. The lower end of the shank has a pair ofarcuate slot portions formed therethrough. The lowermost end of theshank portion is tapered to provide clearance with the associated bodymeans. Side surfaces of the shank are provided with arcuate cutoutportions to provide clearance with certain portions of the body meansand to serve as stop means. The body means has a central hole forreceiving the lower end of the shank and a pair of pin members aresupported between upwardly extending portions of the body means, each ofthese pin members extending through one of said slot portions. The bodymeans is provided with conventional flukes and tripping palms. Theover-all center of gravity of the body means is positioned in the trimposition such that it is spaced slightly away from a plane or linepassing through the pivot axes defined by the longitudinal axes of thepin members, this center of gravity being spaced away in a directiontoward the upper end of the shank. This center of gravity is alsopositioned between planes each of which passes through one of said pivotaxes, these two planes being disposed substantially parallel with oneanother and further extending substantially perpendicular to the planeor line passing through the two pivot axes. This causes the flukes totend to trim to a position substantially parallel with the shank of theanchor.

The present application is a division of US. patent application Ser. No.397,381, filed Sept. 18, 1964, now US. Patent No. 3,292,565.

The present invention relates to new and novel anchor apparatus, andmore particularly to anchor apparatus of the type including a supportmeans and a body means wherein the body means is pivotally supported bythe support means and is adapted to trim to a position wherein theflukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank when theanchor is aweigh, thereby facilitating raising of the anchor into astowed position.

Anchor apparatus of the type discussed hereinafter is generally referredto as a stockless anchor, and the construction of conventional stocklesstype anchors presents major problems in anchoring a vessel and raisingthe anchor when it is desired to get under way, particularly where largeanchors are involved as employed with marine ships and large boats.These relatively heavy anchors are cumbersome and unwieldy formanhandling and many of the larger vessels have no provision for suchhandling. The anchor and chain generally are lowered under Winch and/orbrake control from the stowed position and when leaving anchorage arehauled by winch back into the stowage position. Stockless anchors aregenerally designed to stow with the shank of the anchor drawn into ahawse pipe and with the flukes hauled snug against the shell plating orstowage recess plating. However, while hoisting a stockless anchor, theangle of the flukes has proven to be a problem and has resulted3,327,573 Patented June 27, 1967 ice 11111 severe scarring and damage ofthe outer shell of the s 1p.

In fact, when employed with modern ships having side shells with extremeflare, the flukes may be pivoted inwardly toward the shell and will notbe cammed outwardly and on occasion may penetrate the hull.

Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention toprovide an anchor apparatus wherein a pivotal interconnection isprovided between the support means and the body means of the anchorwhich is positive operating and trouble-free and which requires nocontact by the operators when lowering or raising the anchor such thatwhen the anchor is weighed, the flukes of the anchor will trim to aposition substantially parallel with the anchor shank which representsthe optimum position for hauling in and stowing of this type of anchor.

The arrangement of the present invention is also such that the flukeswill remain substantially parallel with the shank until the shank isvery nearly in a horizontal position. This permits the anchor to bedrawn into its stowage position while requiring a minimum aperture inthe shell and without damaging the shell. Furthermore, this arrangementeliminates the necessity of providing bolsters about the end of thehawse pipe which are generally employed in the prior art to position theanchor when hauling it snug or aboard the vessel.

A particular advantage of the stowage arrangement of the presentinvention is the fact that the anchor can be stowed entirely inboard ofthe line of the hull form such that there is no protuberance on the partof the anchor extending outwardly of the shell. This is of course a verydesirable end result.

Prior art anchors have been provided with arrangements for causing theflukes to trim out substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor,and this type of anchor has generally been termed a balanced anchor. Inorder to obtain this result, such prior art balanced anchors haveemployed an arrangement wherein the overall center of gravity of thebody means of the anchor is disposed below the pivot axis whichpivotally interconnects the body means with the support means or shankof the anchor. This arrangement will of course tend to cause the flukesto trim into the desired lifting position, but this arrangement alsocauses the flukes to re main substantially vertical even when the shankmoves from its vertical position into a non-vertical position as it isbeing hauled into the ship. This is highly disadvantageous since theflukes do not remain substantially parallel with the shank as it isbeing hauled into the ship thereby causing the flukes to be in such aposition as to inflict injury and damage on the shell. Additionally, amuch larger aperture must be provided for receiving the anchor in such acase. i

A further disadvantage of the so-called balanced anchor arrangement isthe fact that since the weight of the body means is normally below thepivot axis, this arrangement tends to keep the flukes up when the anchoris resting on the bottom of the sea. In other words, the center ofgravity of the body means is such as to create a moment tending to keepthe flukes up out of anchoring operative position. This is of coursedisadvantageous since it then becomes necessary for the tripping palmsto develop sufiicient forces to overcome this moment created by theweight of the body means and to trip the fluke means into the operativeposition.

The present invention employs a novel arrangement wherein the body meansis pivotally supported for movement in opposite directions with respectto the support means or shank, the body means being mounted for suchpivotal movement about two separate spaced independent pivot axes. Thecenter of gravity of the over-all body means is located in a uniquemanner with respect to these two pivot axes.

Considering a line drawn through the pivot axes, the overall-center ofgravity of the body means is disposed above this line or away from theline in a direction toward the upper end of the shank. This arrangementis such that when the anchor is on the bottom of the sea, the weight ofthe body means will develop a moment which actually tends to pivot theflukes of the anchor into their operative position. This is highlyadvantageous and is a completely different result than is obtained withconventional balanced anchors.

In addition, the center of gravity of the over-all body means isdisposed such that it is spaced between a pair of parallel planes whichpass through the said two pivot axes and which also are disposedsubstantially perpendicular with the said line passing through saidaxes. The anchor is further provided with limit stop means which limitsthe pivotal movement between the body means and the shank of the anchor.This pivotal movement is so limited that the center of gravity alwaysremains within the aforedescribed desired limits such that when theanchor is aweigh, a constant trim moment is produced which tends tocause the fiukes to trim into a position substantially parallel with theshank of the anchor.

Accordingly, it is apparent that with the arrangement of the presentinvention, the over-all center of gravity of the body means is sodisposed as to develop the desired moments both when the anchor isaweigh and when it is on the sea bottom. This is a unique concept and asubstantially improved result not obtainable with prior art anchors.

Additionally, by positioning the center of gravity of the over-all bodymeans such that it is relatively close to the said line passing throughthe pivot axes, the flukes will remain substantially parallel with theshank until the shank is nearly in a horizontal position. Only when theshank is nearly horizontal is a suflicient moment developed by theweight of the over-all body means so as to cause the force to overcomefrictional forces involved so that the body means will then tend topivot into a position wherein the flukes would be out of parallelrelationship with the shank.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and noveel anchorapparatus which provides a continuous return moment which when theanchor is aweigh causes the flukes to move to a trim position whereinthe flukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank of theanchor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of anchor apparatuswherein the flukes will remain trimmed to a position substantiallyparallel with the shank while the anchor is aweigh until the shank isnearly in a horizontal position thus facilitating movement of the anchorinto a stowed position and requiring a minimum aperture in the shell.

A still further object of the invention is to provide anchor apparatuswherein the body means is so pivoted with respect to the support meansthat the weight of the body means develops a moment which assists intripping the flukes into operative position when the anchor is on thesea bottom.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the in- 'vention willbecome more apparent when considered in connection with thespecification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of anchor apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the anchor apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a top exploded perspective view partially broken away of theshank and body means of the anchor shown in FIG. 1. i i

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the anchorincludes a support means indicated generally by reference numeral and abody means indicated generally by reference numeral 152. The supportmeans includes an elongated shank 154 substantially rectangular in crosssectional configuration throughout the major portion of its length, theshank including a reduced upper end portion 156 having a hole 158 formedtherethrough which is adapted to receive any suitable attaching meansfor securing an anchor cable to the anchor.

The lower end of the shank includes a support portion indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 160, this support portion having a pairof arcuate slot portions 162 and 164 formed completely therethrough.This lower support portion includes downwardly and outwardly extendingsurfaces 166 and 168 which in turn join with downwardly and inwardlytapering lowermost surfaces 170 and 172 which terminate at a lowermostextremity 173 of the support portion. These tapered surfaces 170 and 172provide clearance between the lower support portion of the shank and thesurrounding portion of the body means to enable the desired pivotalmovement between the body means and the support means. The side surfacesof the shank 154 are also provided with cutout arcuate portions 174 asseen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, these arcuate cutout portionsfurther serving to provide sufficient clearance between certain portionsof the body means to enable the necessary pivotal movement between thebody means and the support means and additionally serving as a stopmeans as hereinafter described.

The body means includes a central portion 180, this central portionhaving a substantially rectangular hole 182 extending verticallytherethrough as seen in FIG. 4, a pair of upwardly extending portions184 and 186 being formed integral with portion 186 and at either side ofthe hole 182 therethrough. These upwardly extending portions 184- and186 taper inwardly to points as seen in FIG. 5, and each have pairs ofopenings 184 and 186 formed therethrough. These holes serve to supportpin members 190 and 192, the opposite ends of each of the pin membersbeing supported in aligned holes 184 and 186'. These pin members extendthrough the elongated slot portions 162 and 164 formed in the lower endof the shank and serve to pivotally support the body means about thelower support portion of the shank as discussedmore in detailhereinafter.

The body means includes two laterally extending portions 200 and 202which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the central portion 180.Flukes 204 and 266 extend upwardly from portions 200 and 202respectively, flukes 204 and 206 being of relatively conventionalconfiguration.

A first pair of outwardly extending tripping palms 208 and 210 extend inopposite directions from portion 200 of the body means, and a secondpair of tripping palms 212 and 214 extend outwardly from opposite sidesof the portion 202 of the body means. The tripping palms are illustratedas extending substantially normally through a vertical plane extendingthrough the body means.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4, the body means is illustrated inits normal trim position when the anchor is aweight in the full lineposition shown wherein the two pin members 190 and 192 are positioned inthe lower ends of the elongated slots 162 and 164 formed in the bottomsupport portion of the support means. Let it now be assumed that thebody means is caused to pivot into the phantom line position shown inFIG. 4 due to the action S of the tripping palms. If the body meanspivots into this position, it will pivot about the longitudinal axis190' of the pin 190, the pin 192 moving into the uppermost extremity ofslot 164 into the phantom line position illustrated. When the pin 192reaches the upper end of slot 164, it will positively prevent anyfurther relative pivotal movement between the body means and the supportmeans, and in addition, a surface on the central portion 180 of the bodymeans will engage a lateral surface of the shank of the support means tofurther positively prevent any further relative pivotal movement. Thearrangement is such that the body means is enabled to pivot from aposition wherein the flukes are disposed substantially parallel with theshank to a position wherein the flukes are disposed substantially at a45 degree angle with respect to the shank.

If it is again considered that the body means is in the trim position asshown in FIG. 4, and the body means tends to pivot into a position suchthat the flukes thereof would appear to the right of the shank 154 asseen in FIG. 4, the body means would then tend to pivot about thelongitudinal axis 192 of pin 192. In this case, the pin 190 will move tothe upper extremity of the slot 162 there by positively preventing anyfurther relative pivotal movement between the components. At the sametime, a surface on portion 180 of the body means will engage a lateralsurface of the shank to also positively prevent any further pivotalmovement, this pivotal movement being limited to a position wherein theflukes are disposed at substantially a 45 degree angle with respect tothe shank.

It is accordingly apparent that the body means is mounted for pivotalmovement about two separate spaced independent axes which in this casecomprise the longitudinal axes 190' and 192' of the two pins 190 and 192respectively.

As seen in FIG. 4, the over-all center of gravity of the body means ispositioned along a line indicated by the designation c.g. The center ofgravity in the trim position is illustrated as well as the center ofgravity in the phantom line position, this latter position beingindicated by the designation c.g.'. It will be noted that the center ofgravity of the body means is normally positioned in the trim positionsuch that it is spaced slightly away from a plane or line f--f passingthrough the two pivot axes, the center of gravity being spaced away in adirection toward the upper or attaching end of the shank. Also, it willbe noted that the center of gravity is positioned be: tween planes g'-gand hh each of which passes through one of the pivot axes, these twoplanes being disposed substantially parallel with one another andfurther extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane or linef-f. These planes gg and hh are also disposed substantially parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the shank and equidistantly therefrom.

It will be noted that in the limit of pivotal movement, the center ofgravity of the body means is still positioned in the desiredrelationship wherein it is spaced away from the plane or line ff towardthe attaching end of the shank and further the center of gravity ispositioned within the two planes gg and hh.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that thisinterrelationship of the center of gravity of the body means withrespect to the pivot axes is such that the arrangement provides at alltimes a trim moment when the anchor is aweigh which causes the flukes totend to trim to a position substantially parallel with the shank.Additionally, the center of gravity of the body means is so positionedthat when the anchor is being set and the shank is being towed in a moreor less horizontal position, the weight of the body means will be suchas to tend to pivot the flukes downwardly under the influence of gravitytoward the operative anchoring position and in this manner assist thetripping palms in this action.

Furthermore, it will again be apparent that the center of gravity of thebody means is disposed in the trim position only a relatively shortdistance away from the line or plane ff so that the flukes of the bodymeans will re main in substantially parallel relationship with the shankuntil the shank is moved into an almost horizontal position whereuopnthe weight of the body means will develop a sufficient force so as toovercome frictional forces and permit the flukes to pivot out ofparallel relationship with the shank.

The incorporation of the pin means permits the support means and thebody means to be readily assembled in operative relationship with oneanother whereupon the pin means may be inserted so as to retain thecomponents of the anchor in operative relationship.

It will be apparent as seen in FIG. 4 that the tapered downwardlyextending surfaces and 172 of the lowermost portion of the shank willprovide a clearance with the adjacent surfaces of the central portion ofthe body means so that the body means can readily pivot into the phantomline position. In addition, it will be apparent from this figure thatthe arcuate cutout portions 174 provide clearance with the arcuate outersurfaces of the upwardly extending portions 184 and 186 formed on thebody means. The undersurfaces of cutout portions 174 also serve as astop means to limit downward movement of the shank with respect to thebody means, particularly when the anchor is dropped on the bottom.

It is apparent from the fore-going that there is provided according tothe present invention new and novel anchor apparatus incorporating asupport means adapted to be connected to an anchor chain and a bodymeans including flukes formed thereon for digging into the sea bottom.The construction is such that the body means is pivotally interconnectedwith the support means in a manner whereby there is always provided aconstant return moment to cause the body means to move into a trimposition when the anchor is aweigh whereby the flukes will be disposedsubstantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank of theanchor. When the anchor is being raised, the flukes will remainsubstantially parallel with the shank in the trim position until theshank is nearly in a horizontal relationship thereby facilitatingmovement of the anchor into its stowed position and requiring a minimumsize aperture in the shell of the ship. The pivotal interconnection ofthe body means with the support means and the relationship of the centerof gravity of the body means with respect to the pivot axes are suchthat the weight of the body means Will assist in tripping the flukesinto operative position when the anchor is being set into anchoringposition on the sea bottom.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Anchor apparatus comprising a support means including an elongatedshank having attaching means at the upper end thereof, the lower end ofsaid shank comprising a support portion, said support portion includinga pair of elongated curved slot portions formed therein, body meansincluding fluke means formed thereon and tripping means extendingoutwardly thereof for tripping the fluke means into operative anchoringposition, said body means including a portion having a pair of pin meanssupported thereon, each of said pin means extending through one of saidelongated slot portions formed on said lower support portion of theshank whereby said body means is mounted for pivotal movement about twospaced independent pivot axes for pivotal movement in oppositedirections with respect to said support means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the overall center of gravityof said body means is disposed rela- I tive to a line passing throughsaid pair of pivot axes such that the center of gravity is spaced awayfrom said line toward the upper end of said shank, said center ofgravity also being spaced between a pair of planes extendingsubstantially parallel with one another and passing through said pivotaxes and further being disposed perpendicular to said line passingthrough said pivot axes, and means for limiting pivotal movement of saidbody means with respect to said support means for maintaining theover-all center of gravity in said relationship so as to maintain aconstant trim moment tending to cause the tl'luke means to trim parallelwith said shank when the anchor is aweigh.

3. Anchor apparatus comprising support means including an elongatedshank having attaching means at the upper end thereof and having asupport portion formed at the lower end thereof, said support portionhaving a pair of elongated arcuate slots formed therethrough, saidarcuate slots curving downwardly and away from one another, body meansincluding fluke means formed there-on and having tripping means thereonfor tripping the fluke means into operative position, said body meansincluding spaced portions which serve as support means, a pair of pinssupported between said last-mentioned support means, each of said pinsextending through one of said elongated slots whereby each of thelongitudinal axes of the pins is adapted to comprise a pivot axis, suchthat the body means is supported by the support means for pivotalmovement about apair of spaced independent axes such that the body meanscan pivot in opposite directions relative to the support means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the overall center of gravityof said body means is disposed relative to a line passing through saidpair of pivot axes such that the center of gravity is spaced away fromsaid line toward the upper end of said shank, said center of gravityalso being spaced between a pair of planes extending substantiallyparallel with one another and passing through said pivot axes andfurther being disposed perpendicular to said line passing through saidpivot axes, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said body meanswith respect to said support means for maintaining the overall center ofgravity in said relationship so as to maintain a constant trim momenttending to cause the fluke means to trim parallel with said shank whenthe anchor is aweigh.

5. Anchor apparatus comprising a support means including an elongatedshank having attaching means at the '8 upper end thereof, the lower endof said shank defining a support portion, said support portion includinga lowermost tapered portion which tapers downwardly andtinward- 1y withrespect to the long dimension of the shank, said support portion havinga pair of spaced arcuate slot portions which extend completelytherethrough, body means including a pair of spaced fiukes, said bodymeans including a central support portion between said flukes, saidsupport portion including a pair of spaced portions, a pair of pinmembers fixedly supported between said spaced portion of the body means,each of said pin members passing through one of said slot portionsformed in the lower support portion of said shank, said support portionsdefining a space therebetween which is adapted to receive the lowersupport portions such that the body means may pivot with respect to theshank, said pin members each defining a pivot axis, whereby the bodymeans is supported for pivotal movement in opposite directions withrespect to said shank about a pair of separate spaced pivot axes, saidbody means including tripping means extending laterally therefromadjacent each of said flukes for tripping the flukes into operativeanchoring position, the center of gravity of the over-all body meansbeing disposed relative to a line passing through the pivot axes whenthe body means is in its trim position such that the said center ofgravity is disposed away from said line toward the upper end of saidshank means, said center of gravity also being disposed between a pairof parallel planes each of which passes through one of said pivot axes,said planes being disposed substantially perpendicular to the linepassing through said axes, and interen-gaging means for-med on said bodymeans and said support means for limiting pivotal movement between saidbody means and support means to retain the center of gravity in saidrelationship to the said line and said planes tomaintain a constant trimmoment when the anchor is aweigh which tends to cause the flukes to triminto a position substantially parallel with said shank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,270,704 9/ 1966 Ekberg 114 208FOREIGN PATENTS 512,519 2/1955 Italy.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.

1. ANCHOR APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATEDSHANK HAVING ATTACHING MEANS AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, THE LOWER END OFSAID SHANK COMPRISING A SUPPORT PORTION, SAID SUPPORT PORTION INCLUDINGA PAIR OF ELONGATED CURVED SLOT PORTIONS FORMED THEREIN, BODY MEANSINCLUDING FLUKE MEANS FORMED THEREON AND TRIPPING MEANS EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY THEREOF FOR TRIPPING THE FLUKE MEANS INTO OPERATIVE ANCHORINGPOSITION, SAID BODY MEANS INCLUDING A PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF PIN MEANSSUPPORTED THEREON, EACH OF SAID PIN MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAIDELONGATED SLOT PORTIONS FORMED ON SAID LOWER SUPPORT PORTION OF THESHANK WHEREBY SAID BODY MEANS IS MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT TWOSPACED INDEPENDENT PIVOT AXES FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITEDIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS.